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Weather:
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20 - 23 May 2025.
Mostly dry with variable cloud cover. Temperatures ranged from 22°C to 32°C.
Omkoi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Burmese Nuthatch

Little Banded Yeoman

Eucyclodes gavissima

Scarce Silver-streak Blue

20 May. We left Chiang Mai just before 07:00 with the first stop intended to be scrub and remaining forest around the temple at Ban Na Fon, about 40 kilometres before Omkoi. However, upon arrival we discovered hoards of workers clearing up the whole area, presumably after some temple fete the previous weekend. So, giving the disturbance a miss we continued another couple of kilometres and took a random track into suitable looking habitat. A few butterflies were active, with Slaty Awlet particularly notable. For the remainder of the day we simply tried various access into dry forest toward Omkoi. A pair of Burmese Nuthatch was only the second time we'd recorded this species around Omkoi.

21 May. Given the excellent weather - mostly clear with patchy cloud - we decided to concentrate on higher elevations, up to the ranger station at 1,545 metres. Before that however, we tried a couple of areas nearer Omkoi during which we found a nail embedded in one of our tyres, necessitating a return to Omkoi for repairs and an hour lost. Returning to the hills we had mixed results, with several plushblue species, though the birding was poor. A Yellow Coster was present at the pass. In a fit of madness we decided to descend into the forest on the other side of the ranger station. In the past, providing the weather was dry, this track, which leads to a village. was quite drivable with 4x4. However, having tried it a couple of years ago and given up due to lack of maintenance we vowed never to try it again. That was until today when we tried again. Although locals are still using this track, it is best attempted in a high clearance, short wheelbase 4x4. We gave up after a couple of kilometres due to the gooey conditions and lack of knowledge of the track farther down. During our travels we did chance upon a flowering bush attracting Scarlet Flash, Copper Flash, Indigo Flash, Green Flash, Slate Flash and Common Cornelian. Quite a haul. Plus a single Little Banded Yeoman of the scarce subspecies flavobrunnea restricted to the north. Another night at Omkoi where lights around the accommodation attracted a fair number of moths.

22 May. Today we worked areas downhill from the higher section. Another flash species - this time Suffused Flash - was a good find. A Rufous Woodpecker was also heard; being a good record for Omkoi. Rain started at 14:00 so we retreated to lower elevations toward Omkoi, though little new was found due to the cloudy conditions.

23 May. Early rain petered out by 08:00. Most of the morning was spent in a new area around 1,100 metres, which proved good for Orange Punch. Some better habitat and a area to work more on a subsequent trip. We finished the day in hillsides near Omkoi, with the best find of our trip - a Scarce Silver-streak Blue. This species has been a nemesis for the best part of ten years, so beers all round this evening. A mid afternoon return to Chiang Mai.